Andrew Hudson
Houston Today
Small towns across the Central Interior heard they would lose their Field department stores when in February, Hudson’s Bay Co. announced it was closing all 167 Fields stores as part of a strategic decision to refocus on its other retail outlets: The Bay, Lord & Taylor, and Home Outfitters. Along with the Zellers chain, of which HBC sold several outlets in 2008, Fields was HBC’s most value-priced department store.
But on Wednesday, HBC spokesperson Tiffany Bourré confirmed that a company called FHC has reached a tentative agreement to buy the lease for the Houston Fields and another 36 Fields stores across Canada.
That list includes several Fields stores in other parts of northern B.C., including Fraser Lake, Vanderhoof, Kitimat, 100 Mile House, Fort St. James, Masset and Port McNeill.
More details on the tentative Fields purchase are expected soon.
Under a separate purchase agreement announced Monday, discount retailer The Bargain! Shop said it will take over 10 other Fields stores, including the one in New Hazelton.